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Idea Cloud

Part 2 Project 1999Tristan SterkThe University of Adelaide Adelaide AustraliaThe metaphor of a cloud was chosen to propel this project. A cloud is a field. A field is a complicated, whimsical, ephemeral, system of balances. It is an envelope or zone in which the possibility of "cloud" emerges. Fields can be thought of in terms of clouds because they are spaces in which orders arise from a balance of forces to produce a recognisable pattern; a temporary structure that changes as it blows in the wind. Of course field theories and the conditions that they bring to form making, are all motivated from the bottom-up, they are circumstantial to calculations, with no creative act required to define the architectural form. And in that respect there are no overarching geometrical notions or understandings that can be used to come to grips with exactly what the space is about. The spaces, like the spaces generated by an experimental dance or street performance can only be understood as a circumstance, or a condition in which something may occur.

This realisation was used to create a new type of theatre. The structure itself can be thought of in terms of a hydraulic-tensile from, that in a pre-programmed way can reform, mould, bend and deform itself as though it was participating in an intelligent dialogue with the conditions that surround it. A tensile fabric is stretched around the structural framework, and kept separate from the framework by a collection of hydraulic units allowing the structure to re-present itself differently. Networking the hydraulic elements together, then allows a piece of software to drive the configuration of the new architectural envelope, and gives rise to the performer being able to entirely re-configure the space from moment to moment as a means of extending the capabilities of their dance.

Tristan Sterk

Tutor Statement:

The field of 56 individual student projects in this Final Project studio coalesced into nine discrete focus groups in which clusters of similarly oriented students could explore and critique common issues and inspirations. Tristan's project emerged from a group that was loosely entitled 'Future Architecture'-'Future', because the philosophical counterpoints to each of these projects were focused in directions that were largely unforseen by the rest of the class.

Tristan's project twisted and turned through several states of ideas, the common thread to which turned out to be the notion of 'Idea Cloud', the final product of his work. Tristan's project stood out not only as a strikingly tangible realisation of a highly unconventional building-both graphically and technically stunning in his CAAD representation-but as a highly critical, thought provoking work as well, that challenges it's audience, causing them to rethink the assumptions they make of familiar ground.

He raised some interesting questions that are perhaps best described by examining the dynamics of a temporary performance space similar the space created by street buskers.In such spaces the performer uses a series of actions to generate a response from an audience and then use the audience's reactions carve a space (a stage). One might think of this type of space as a new 'dynamic' form of architecture. An architecture that like a cloud is the product of a balancing act between the particles of a system, whether bodies or dust and water.

As an experimental dance theatre, 'Idea Cloud,' begs the question in what new ways can our bodies engage with spaces and how can this engagement inform the architecture we create.

1999

The facade. The glass walls at each end of the building open to balconies that are encased by tension wires, pulling the "cloud-like" object together. This project is more about the idea of a cloud than actually being a cloud.

Grange Beach Australia; the structures are accessed via an existing Australian jetty. This site was chosen because a beach is the iconic manifestation of an Australian field, the beauty of which can be found in the ability of a beach to reconfigure itself

The rafters. If one takes a typical tectonic element like a rafter, and bends and pulls and stretches it like the wind, a fluid form starts to take shape.

The frame. Taking this idea further, and using it in a similar way with a lateral load bearing system, a structural order starts to emerge, just as the structure of a cloud may start to emerge from the balance of a favourable circumstance.

Using the emerging structure and stretching fabric membranes on both the inner and outer sides of the framework, gives rise to the "cloud like" appearance of the building. This slide shows the relationship between the envelope and it's internal workings.

A glass facade constructed with floating re-enforcement plates, dappling the view with snow like particles. Four voids represent doors (removed for rendering clarity), beyond which lies the balcony and sea to which the space physically and visual opens

The space, translucent, tentlike, free flowing, unique, malleable. Ready to program and alter with the production of a dance. Below the dance floor are three types of service networks that roam throughout the cloud. Acoustic Lighting & Projection.

At the jetty end; a tower housing spaces for theatrical preparation, ticketing, and meeting spaces for performers and the public alike. The lookout atop the structure is assessable via an external stair. The tower like the clouds will glow at night.

A section of the tower. This slide further examines the assembly of the tower form. The lower levels house water lead activities while the higher levels house rehearsal lead activities.

Spaces informed by the idea of a venn diagram. Spaces was more about the over-lap between three types of systems. An overlap "between" spaces would provide the dancer with rich combinations of space through which the dance could instinctively move.